Data in Action

All across the planet, NASA Earth science data are used to meet real-world challenges.

Featured Data in Action

This map, which is a segment of a larger map, shows changes in avian abundance in portions of the United States and Canada. Red colors indicate declining abundance, whereas blue indicates increasing abundance.

5 MIN READ

Citizen Science and MODIS Data Reveal Patterns of Bird Population Change

The eBird project uses NASA data and observations from amateur birdwatchers to provide insights into the decline in avian populations throughout North America.

June 17, 2025

This Day/Night Band image from the VIIRS instrument aboard the Suomi NPP satellite features an aurora in the northern hemisphere on February 22, 2017.

5 MIN READ

VIIRS Day/Night Band Data Augments Aurora Forecast Model Predictions

A comparison of aurora forecasts with actual satellite observations suggests VIIRS DNB data can enhance space weather prediction efforts.

May 30, 2025

Filters

2 MIN READ

New NASA Sea Surface Height Grids to Study the Climate

Improvements in the new version of this gridded product enhance data collection for the oceanography and climate science communities.

June 15, 2022

GEDI Level 2B Plant Area Index southwest of Chapada dos Veadeiros National Park, Brazil, on October 29, 2020

9 MIN READ

Mapping Wildfires, Volcanic Ash, and Soil Respiration

Read highlights of three publications that detail how NASA Earth observation data are used to map wildfire fuel loads, analyze volcanic ash composition, and improve soil respiration models in agricultural systems.

March 15, 2022

3 MIN READ

Earth’s Contemporary Sea Level Budget and Net Energy Imbalance in a Warming Climate

Satellite observations complement other sensors to gauge Earth’s energy imbalance (EEI) more accurately.

Feb. 18, 2022

The crater of Merapi, shown with Terra MODIS nighttime LST data

7 MIN READ

Carbon Balance, Disease Risk, and Volcanic Surface Temperature

Learn how researchers used NASA data to map Amazon carbon flux, mosquito disease transmission zones, and volcanic activity patterns for environmental monitoring and risk assessment.

Feb. 3, 2022

ISS ECOSTRESS LST map of Xi’an, China, and the surrounding area during August 10, 2019, one of the hottest days recorded

9 MIN READ

Arctic Lakes, Urban Thermal Variations, and Bird Movements

Explore how scientists use NASA Earth observation data to monitor Arctic lake temperatures, map urban heat variations, and track endangered Shoebill movements across three diverse ecosystems.

Nov. 8, 2021

the Yukon River spills into the Bering Sea along the west coast of Alaska

3 MIN READ

Monitoring Changes in the Arctic Using Saildrone, SMAP Satellite, and Ocean Models Data

Researchers used satellite and saildrone data to measure sea surface salinity in coastal waters freshened by river runoff in the Yukon Delta.

Oct. 5, 2021

2 MIN READ

Satellite Sea Surface Salinity to Monitor River Plumes Impacts

Ocean researchers are studying the data consistency between different salinity products.

July 27, 2021

Daytime Land Surface Temperature over the study area of Mohamed and others (2021) during one of the days identified as having the highest temperatures

8 MIN READ

Earthquakes, Wildfire Response, and Bird Diversity

Read highlights of three publications that detail how NASA Earth observation data informs earthquake prediction, the effects of wildfires on vegetation, and the impact of agriculture on African birds.

July 19, 2021

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